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Campakalata Devi – The Expert Debater

Just before the annual Gaura Purnima festival in Mayapur in 1986, Campakalata Devi, along with three other sakhis, was installed and joined Sri Sri Radha Madhava on the altar.
Sri Campakalata Devi is the third of the eight principle gopis. Her father is Arama, her mother is Vatika-devi and her husband is Candaksa. She has a yellow-white complexion, just like the colour of a full-blown champaka flower. Her garments are described as chataka, or brown like a sparrow’s feather. Campakalata Devi’s k

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Events
 
By Madhava Smulen
 

The first Janmastami festival organized by the new ISKCON management at Brooklyn’s Radha Govinda Mandir focused on improving the pilgrim experience to create lasting positive impressions for devotees and visitors alike. 

The inspirational event also attracted a visit by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who conferred a citation upon temple president Hansarupa Das for his service to the community.

To catch the interest of passersby, increase outreach and facilitate th

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I HAVE SURRENDERED UNTO RADHA RANI’S LOTUS FEET 49 YEARS AGO BY ACCEPTING THE SANYASA ORDER -49 years of Sanyasa. At a young age of 21, HH Jayapataka Swami was awarded Sanyas by His Divine Grace A.C.BhaktiVednata Swami Prabhupada. Today at the Namhatta Bhavan disciples celebrated this historic moment. HH Jayapataka Swami is the senior most and longest standing Sanyasi in the whole of Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya. In a humble mood Jayapataka Swami said, “I need your prayers that I continue foll

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Full happiness means full freedom. As long as we are not fully happy, we are chained, we are trapped and we are not free. Only in full happiness are we actually free. Therefore, only in Krsna consciousness we can be really free, because nowhere else are we able to be fully happy.

So this is nice to remember that devotional service is voluntarily performed. It is performed out of free choice and no one is forced in this way. Service can be our life, but this is our choice because Krsna does not

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Look At the Good by Bhaktimarga Swami

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I took a trek (a mild one) through the Riverside Neighbourhood with Prem. Harvest time is truly showing itself in this section of town.  There's that rich black soil bearing lots of veggies and fruits.  A great place to stroll through.

Some six hours later, Hadai brought me to the Fraser River for another installment. These shorter walks, executed periodically, make for a healthful experience in the day.  In our discussion together, we agreed that life need not be glum. We must extract all t
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By Bhurijana dasa

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.24), Narada Muni explains to Srila Vyasadeva how he attained, through the mercy of the Vaisnavas, an exalted spiritual position:

Although they were impartial by nature, those followers of the Vedanta blessed me with their causeless mercy. As far as I was concerned, I was self- controlled and had no attachment for sports, even though I was a boy. In addition, I was not naughty, and I did not speak more than required.

Srila Prabhupada explains in his pu

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Sri Radhastami by Giriraj Swami

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A Talk by Giriraj Swami August 30, 2009 San Diego

For the most auspicious celebration of Sri Radhastami, we shall read from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto Two, Chapter Three: “Pure Devotional Service.”

TEXT 23

jivan chavo bhagavatanghri-renum na jatu martyo ‘bhilabheta yas tu sri-visnu-padya manujas tulasyah svasan chavo yas tu na veda gandham

TRANSLATION

The person who has not at any time received the dust of the feet of the Lord’s pure devotee upon his head is certainly a dead body. And the person

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A Radhastami Meditation by Achyut Gopal Das

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Jai Sri Radhe!! Is the chant on everyone's minds and hearts now. Atleast in the minds and hearts of devotees. It's time to celebrate the most auspicious of auspicious festivals; it's time to celebrate Sri Radhashtami - the appearance day of Srimati Radharani. For devotees, Radhashtami is a more important festival than Janmashtami. Why? Because for the world Krishna is God but for devotees, Radha is God because they know that Krishna is subservient to the love of Radha. In our ISKCON circle, i
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Srila Prabhupada’s childhood Deities of Sri Sri Radha Govinda,
courtesy Nityatrpta Devi Dasi, BBT Archives.

By Shyamasundara Dasa

Original article: https://is.gd/MZSb0J

The following is a revised and expanded edition of an article that I originally wrote in 1995. It weaves together, through the lens of Vedic Astrology (Cora Prasna), the history of how the ISKCON Mayapura temple was first victimized by thieves who stole Srila Prabhupada’s childhood Deities. And, the subsequent more serious attac

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Visiting Rajani Priya Dasi by Giriraj Swami

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Yesterday eight of us Kuntidevi, Lavanga Manjari, Nanda Kishore, Kandarpa Manjari (his wife), Gopal (their son), Srimati (their daughter), Jivan Mukta, and I visited Rajani Priya Dasi (Rose Forkash) at Mission Terrace Convalescent Hospital, where she is staying temporarily. She was as Krishna conscious as ever and told us how she is getting staff, patients, and visitors to chant Hare Krishna. She explains the philosophy behind it and gives them pieces of paper with the maha-mantra written on it

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Just like we have our mother who gives birth to our material body, to whom we owe our body, we also have our Eternal Mother to whom we owe our very soul. In different religions, She is called and addressed by different names. In Vedic culture, She is addressed as Sita, Lakshmi or Radha - the consort of our Supreme Father. She is our Mother God, our Mother Supreme. The scriptures abundantly and extensively glorify This Supreme Mother - Her love, Her compassion and Her grace for all of us. A mo
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Bliss in Vancouver by Bhaktimarga Swami

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So the procession portion of the Chariot Fest was over, went a bit overtime by usual standards (maybe a half hour) but it was good.  Strong kirtanhappened all the way along.  I'm the one assigned to pick and chose the lead singers. I gave the mic to the boys band, "The Mayapuris," and they just kept with it, to its sweet end at Stanley Park.  https://www.instagram.com/p/B1WSykZgBt6/?igshid=1v78dh33t8k8r

I made my way to my designated spot, the "Q and A" booth.  Once I took my seat there, I di
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The Mystery of Life by Achyut Gopal Das

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On 1st September, morning one of our very senior devotee from our Goa congregation, H.G. Gopanand Prabhu left his body. His life has been a glorious one, fully dedicated to practicing the principles of Krishna consciousness. Sitting near his body and chanting the Holynames in this final journey of his, I was wondering about the mystery of life. His body was appearing as if deep in sleep but this is such a sleep that one doesn't wake up from. What kind of mysterious life has God made! The body
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By Madhava Smullen
 

During a visit to Los Angeles for a political function, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. Congresswoman from Hawaii, addressed a crowd of about four thousand devotees and members of the public at the L.A. Rathayatra festival on August 4th. 

Gabbard is currently campaigning for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in 2020. According to USA Today, she was the most Googled candidate after both the first and second Democratic debates. It remains to be seen if

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People
 
By Madhava Smullen 
 

The third album proper from Srikala – once known as Srikalogy – is a major evolution musically, lyrically and personally for the artist. Released on July 16th, “Beautiful Dark Moon” is an entrancing blend of R&B, hip-hop and world music, slower, softer and with more singing than previous rap-heavy efforts Kirtan Sessions and New Paradigm. It’s also not afraid to explore vulnerable personal themes and spiritual struggle.

The title is a literal translation of the artist’s

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A Soft Rain by Bhaktimarga Swami

A soft rain overnight made the day just right.  I've been resisting the lake swim, overcoming a cold.  It's hard for me because I always consider myself a water-baby.  However, there's plenty of engagement in just sitting down and listening to seminars on topics, "Guilt," and "Forgiveness," by Mahatma and Jahnava, a marvelous husband and wife team.  And it's always a delight to hear Sruti Kirti, speak about his two and half years in personal assistance to our guru, Prabhupada.  It's so sweet.

I
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Ganesh, by Stephen Knapp

The principal scriptures dedicated to Ganesha are the Ganesha Purana, the Mudgala Purana, and the Ganapati Atharvashirsa. Brahma Purana and Brahmanda Purana are other two Puranic texts that deal with Ganesha.

Lord Ganesh is known as the son of the Shiva and Parvati, and is the god of luck and of “opening the way.” That is why many people pray to Ganesh before starting a new project, in order to proceed with as few obstacles as possible.

Ganesha became the Lord (Isha) of all existing beings (Gana

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It is my privilege to extend my best wishes to Shri Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja on the auspicious and joyous occasion of his 75 birthday.

The life, ideals and teachings of Shri Goswami Maharaja are an inspiration for mankind to tread the path of spirituality. He has been striving to impart quality education to the youth and provide food to children from the poor, needy and disadvantaged sections of the society.

His vision and ideas propound selfless service to humanity. May the 75° birthday

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ObituaryAlachua, Florida-Jahnavi Haggard, former Executive Director of Children of Krishna, a non-profit organization formed in 1996 to support second generation Krishna youth with grants for education and counseling, passed away on Saturday, August 9th, at the age of 36. She died at her home in Alachua, Florida, from a heart attack resulting from complications of her life-long struggle with diabetes. 
 

Jahnavi was a Krishna devotee from the age of 4, when her parents joined the Hare Krishna movement'

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Activism
 
By Madhava Smullen 
 

Incessant rains pelted the South Indian state of Karnataka from late July until August 13th, causing widespread flooding, a death toll of 76, and damage to over 75,000 homes. According to the government of Karnataka the disaster has caused a loss of around 50,000 Crore rupees. 

The ISKCON temple in the city of Belgaum was not affected by the flood, no devotees were harmed, and there was no major damage to any devotee homes. But with the inspiration and guidance of Bhakt

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