This a songbook that I prepared in the last two years.
Here is the link to a website where you can find all the information, a link to request paper copies, a link to download the book in e-book format and a link to download the mp3 files that accompany the songs. https://www.sacredsongsymphony.com/
Combining Philosophy & Music
From the very beginning of my devotional life, I had been intrigued by the bhajans that were sung in the temple. Sanskrit and Bengali seemed to be designed for glorifyin
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Those who are intelligent know that everything is supplied by Krishna. So why not depend on Krishna only? Why so many other attempts? Therefore Krishna says,
vyavasayatmika buddhir
ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-sakha hy anantas ca
buddhayo ’vyavasayinam
[Gita 2.41]
Vyavasayi means one who knows business particularly. Vyavasaya. Or one who knows confidently, “This is the cause; this is the effect.” Those who know that Krishna is the origin of everything are fixed up in Krishna. Vyavasayatmika
I had a marvelous time at the Scarborough ISKCON Centre enjoying both the soup and the company. This should not be mistaken for a soup kitchen, (even though at meal time, a soup extraordinaire is, in fact, on the menu), but a centre of spiritual power, where people come together to hear about themselves through the message of the Gita
The folks here are reading and discussing the Gita's Chapter 11 which resembles, in some way, a freak of nature. Awesome images of multi-headed forms fill the
Speaker: HG Vaisesika Das
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.14
ity uktvadri-dari-kusja-
gahvaresv atma-vatsakan
vicinvan bhagavan krsnah
sapani-kavalo yayau
“Let Me go and search for the calves,” Krsna said. “Don’t disturb your enjoyment.” Then, carrying His yogurt and rice in His hand, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, immediately went out to search for the calves of His friends. To please His friends, He began searching in all the mountains, mountain caves, bushes and narrow passages.”
This is
By Odishatv Bureau
Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: With flames of protest erupting in Odisha over the untimely Rath Yatra organised by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on the occasion of Basant Panchami in Mumbai, Yudhistir Govinda Das, national director of communications, ISKCON (New Delhi) has finally released a statement mentioning that the chariot fest of the Holy Trinity is being observed as per the scriptures.
“Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb in November 2019 had sugge
There are so many mantras out there? Why is the Hare Krsna mahamantra considered to be the most powerful one?
Mantras are all invested with power. Previously, there were sages, who by chanting mantras, could do many things. Some people were fighting with mantras. Now we think we are very sophisticated these days; we have missiles for instance. But in the old days, you could just chant a mantra and invoke a great power. So mantras are known to have all kinds of powers. People could light fire by
For a third consecutive day, our Govinda's Restaurant was put to good use. It catered two hundred guests at the YMCA on Thursday. Last evening, we held an appreciation dinner for our drama troops of the January 1st "The Gita” production. That was nice. And then today, I sat with members of the wedding party for Narayani and Kent, feasting like crazy after marrying them. Govinda's keeps busy.
Now, about the wedding, held in the temple room—it was simple and sweet. Narayani and her famil
One of the books I truly love is the JAPA book my Bhurijan Prabhu. It is such a practical, beautiful and deep book. It just makes so much sense and puts things in perspective.
Here is a small extract from the book on, what is truly important in life. I am sure you will appreciate the deep wisdom of these simple words.
"What is the significance of having proved ourselves right and someone else wrong? What is the significance of having achieved crowning success in this world? What is the signif
By Suta Goswami Das
Prabhupada Bhagavata Swagatham Book Marathon distribution 2019 with Radheshyam prabhu
Traveling with Radheshyam Prabhu and distributing books is nothing short of an adventure. As per the English dictionary, the definition of an adventure is “an exciting or daring experience”. An experience is exciting when you don’t know what is awaiting you the next moment. With Radheshyam Prabhu, every day is an exciting experience, especially during Book Marathon. One day traveling in cro
Cambodia, a small country between Thailand and Vietnam, has a population of about sixteen million people. Kala Das has regularly visited this land for the last ten years to share Krishna consciousness with people. He is a great source of inspiration for those few devotees who stay there on a regular basis.
“Kirtan is 2020 Vision for Cambodia“ was organized to bring people’s attention to the local programs so that they can become involved in devotional service to the Lord. The beautiful festival
By Madhava Smullen
In the U.K., devotees from ISKCON Leicester’s congregation joined a total of nearly twenty families for a groundbreaking scheme called ‘Come Dine Together,’ designed to build friendships and understanding between Hindus and Muslims.
ISKCON Leicester has a close working relationship with St Philip’s Centre, the charity for interfaith understanding that launched the scheme. During a discussion with the Centre’s Deputy Director Riaz Ravat, ISKCON Leicester temple president Prad
Mayapur is getting painted with a festive mood everywhere. Attractive pandals, tents, variety prasadam outlets, exhibits, and most importantly, the feast of seeing all the wonderful moons of our movement together in Mayapur, Gaura Purnima festival is the highlight of the year in Mayapur. ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) setting is so creative, artistic and innovative and added with the various seminars on leadership skills nurture a bright future for ISKCON.
Source: https://www.mayapur.com/2020/f
The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust's publication, The Science of Self Realization, is one of its most popular books, either in hard or soft copy, and it continues to be a good introduction to bhakti-yoga. In 1968, an article appeared in the Montreal Gazette. Our guru, Prabhupada, read with interest the topic on soul research, which appears in the SSR. He did respond to it. Here is an excerpt from that Gazette Headliner.
Heart Surgeon Wants to Know What a Soul Is
WINDSOR- A world-famous Canadi
Everyone enjoys having their photo taken, no matter where we may go in this world. Our deep-rooted identification with our gross and subtle material body allows us to experience pleasure seeing our own picture and showing it to others. On my travels I often see people at airports taking pictures of themselves with their relatives and friends. Now, through the modern technology of smartphones, people can take selfies without needing another person to take the shot.
Many times I observe people ta
By Madhava Smullen
With the famous annual Gaura Purnima festival at ISKCON’s headquarters in Mayapur, West Bengal running from February 17th to March 11th, and thousands of devotees and pilgrims pouring into the spiritual city, there’s now an alternative, more peaceful way to get there from Kolkata airport.
Avoiding the bumpy, risky roads and pollution, travelers can instead book the Jaladuta boat service organized by the Mayapur Tourism department and enjoy a relaxing cruise down the river
In a talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.51, on December 28, 1973, in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada spoke about bhagavat-priyanam, those who are very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
“Bhagavat-priyanam. There is a common saying in English, ‘If you love me, love my dog.’ That is very important. If you love such person who is very dear to Krishna (bhagavat-priyanam), then Krishna is more pleased.
“There is a version in the Padma Purana. Parvati was asking questions to Lord Shiva, and he was
One of the most foundational principles in the science of bhakti is expressed in a verse from the Adi Purana. Here's the Sanskrit with Roman Transliteration then the translation.
ye me bhakta janān partha
na me bhaktās ca te janāh
mad bhaktānām ca ye bhaktās
te me bhaktatamāh matāh
“One who claims to be my devotee is not my devotee, but one who is a devotee of my devotee is actually my devotee.”
The above verse from the text, is God speaking—the actual words of Sri Krishna. The verse
On February 13, 2020, the observance of the 146th Appearance Day of His Divine Grace Astottarasata Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada, the entire completed Pujari Floor of the TOVP was opened in great pomp and grandeur. In preparation for the relocation of ISKCON’s beloved world Deities into Their long-awaited new home in 2022, and to instill confidence in ISKCON’s leadership and devotees that the construction is solidly moving in that direction, the opening was officially underta
The Iskcon will throw open on Thursday the world’s largest pujari seva on a single-floor facility spread over 2.5 acres at the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium at Mayapur in Nadia.
Devotees from over 77 countries are expected to attend the inaugural ceremony that will also mark the countdown to the opening of the Vedic planetarium, the Iskcon’s flagship Rs 700-crore project slated to be completed in March 2022.
“This is going to be the largest floor for worship and other seva facilities in the
By Madhava Smullen
A new project, The Pilgrimage, is providing luxury spiritual retreats and online education for corporate clients, while also offering ISKCON devotees the chance to earn a living amongst Vaishnava peers.
Founder Sandipani Muni Das (Kal Key), originally from Coventry in the UK, worked on Wall Street before a visit to the sacred village of Vrindavan, India changed his life. An encounter with a holy man there, who lived so simply yet was ready to share everything he had, gave
