Tilak, the clay “V” marking found on the foreheads of devotees of Krishna around the world, is called Gopi Chandan, but sastra says the Gopi’s tilak is made from sandalwood, not clay. So why the name?
It is sometimes thought tilak is clay from the bank of the sacred Ganges, but this is also not correct. If you do a little research, you will find that tilak is mined from a dry river bed in Dwarka, Gujarat, nowhere near Vrindavan.
So what’s the connection with the Gopis?
It is in the Gargha Samh
Small temples are where the big action is! ISKCON Nellore is famous as a fired-up preaching center in Andhra Pradesh. Under the leadership of His Holiness Sukadeva Swami Maharaj, the temple is doing exceedingly well on all grounds. Preaching is on full steam, with their large congregation now actively preparing for the upcoming “Gudur Rath Yatra,” set to happen in another one month. Devotees also distribute books regularly. During a recent program, they distributed 300 copies of Bhagavad Gita
Sacred chanting on the Emerald Isle will mark 30 years of blissful service.
The title read, “Now Irish Eyes are Smiling”, an article in the Back to Godhead magazine by Mathuresa Dasa covered the installation ceremony of Sri Sri Radha Govinda, the presiding deities at ISKCON Northern Ireland’s Govindadvipa temple. The year was 1986, Ireland was still in the midst of a guerrilla warfare conflict, and it was a cover feature and multiple page spread in the publication that was the mainstay of ISKC
Lord Krishna protects Iskcon Delhi from terroristic attack.
Times of India: NEW DELHI: In the winter of 2015, when Indian agencies were busy tracking down alQaida modules, two Jaish-eMuhammed terrorists had quietly sneaked into the capital. Intelligence sources said the duo rented a room in Lajpat Nagar, assembled six improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and recced at least four places for a strike, including the Taj Mahal and two city spots -Iskcon temple and the Select Citywalk mall in Saket.
Hearing good news about others affects people in different ways. Personally, the feelings it evokes within me serves as a barometer of how emotionally healthy I am and my relationship with the individual. Feelings of joy and "they totally deserve it" are what I aim for. However, in instances where it dredges up not so pleasant emotions, I realize I have internal work to do.
Just as pain serves as an indication that something is wrong with the body, similarly, negative emotions can serve as a
I received this gift of a figurine on the first day of Kartik, the sacred month we are presently observing. Since I’m mostly confined to my recovery room it has been a welcome gift. I look at it many times during the day and remember the lilas (sacred stories) connected to it.
The figurine is of baby Krishna and His mother, Yasoda. If we are all ready to accept God as a person then it means there are other persons around him. He has parents, aunts, uncles, friends, lovers, community – interac
Just as a very good sweet will have something hidden inside of it, or a company will have the inner group of key people, the Gita has a core made up of four verses. These are called the Catur Sloki (catur = four, and sloki = verses), and they summarize the entire Gita.
The eighteen chapters of the Gita are themselves divided into 3 parts. The middle six chapters focus on bhakti and are “protected” on either side by teachings on karma-yoga (the first six chapters) and jnana yoga (the focus of t
High streets are intriguing places; a microcosm of modern life. It’s where people descend in their thousands, searching for something extra to enrich their existence. These urban hubs are a melting pot of entertainers, campaigners, shoppers, beggars and advertisers, a marketplace for the latest commodities and ideas, a space for meeting, sharing and exploring. Here you’ll find people from every imaginable socio-economic background, swarming like bees around a hive.
Enter the monks. Yes, you r
Lecture on The most direct sacrifice by HH Niranjana Swami on 11 May 2016 at Minsk
(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 Be a Person of Excellence by Charu Prabhu in June 2016
(Charu Das was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1970. He has been President, variously, of the Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Berkeley (USA) temples.)
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Lecture on Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya Lila 09-319-335 by Sesa Prabhu on 21 May 2016 at ISKCON Alachua
(Sesa Dasa was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1974 while he was traveling as a member of the initial Bhaktivedanta Book Trust library party. Sesa Dasa has a portfolio of two ministries: Minister of Educational Development and Minister of Justice, under which ISKCON Resolve works.)
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Lecture on Bhakti is joyful and fruitful by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu
(Bhagavad Gita Chapter - 10, Text - 17)
(His Grace Caitanya Charan Prabhu is a monk and spiritual teacher in the time honored tradition of bhakti yoga. He is a editor of Back to Godhead, which is the official international magazine of the Hare Krishna movement.)
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Question: Do you have any nice words to remind us not to have doubt whenever we have fear or doubt?
There are two types of doubts. One type of doubt comes from sinful activity and attachment to sinful activity. The other type of doubt comes from intelligence because we are also investigating something and cannot just accept everything blindly. So, there is also a healthy doubt. In the third canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Kapiladev explains to his mother these two types of doubt. About the other do
Giriraj Swami spoke on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila,22.83:
krsna-bhakti-janma-mula haya ‘sadhu-sanga’
krsna-prema janme, tenho punah mukhya anga
“The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krishna is association with advanced devotees. Even when one’s dormant love for Krishna awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.” (Cc Madhya 22.83)
“Sacinandana Swami made the point that if we are in a humble mood, we will see our godbrothers and godsisters—people similar to ourse
Even if one chants the holy name imperfectly, he still easily attains liberation:
[A disciple of Prakasananda Sarasvati to an assembly of disciples]: “In this age of Kali, one cannot attain liberation without taking to the devotional service of the Lord. In this age, even if one does not chant the holy name of Krsna perfectly, he still attains liberation very easily.”
– Sri Caitanya caritamrta Madhya lila 25.30
Even imperfectly uttered, the holy name frees one from sin:
[Haridasa thakura to Lor
Raga-Dvesha, The Cause Of Bondage
Raga (attraction), Dvesha (repulsion) and Tatastha Vritti (indifference) are the three important Vrittis of the mind. Raga and Dvesha (like and dislike or love and hatred or attraction and repulsion) are the two currents in the mind which bind a man to the Samsaric wheel of birth and death. Raga and Dvesha are the two Doshas or faults in the mind that have brought you to this world. The Svarupa of Bandha (bondage) is Raga and Dvesha. The Svarupa of Ajnana is
Is there an absolute “best” way to eat? One that tastes great, makes us feel good, doesn’t destroy the Earth, doesn’t inflict unnecessary suffering on other living creatures, and isn’t harmful to our health?
How about vegetarianism? Veganism? Lacto-vegetarianism? Raw food-ism? Juice fasting? Should we just do whatever feels good? Modified ovo-cannibalism? Maybe total fasting is the way to go?
What makes one way of eating (or non-eating) “better” than another? And who decides what’s “best,” anyw
This Little boy is missing in my life since many lifetimes. Whoever finds Him please let me know His whereabouts!!!
Color: blackish blue
Dress: yellow silk
Identification marks: will have peacock feather over His head
Last known location: Groves of Vrindavan with cows
Other details: Moonlike face to charm anyone in the universe, uses flute to mesmerize people
When Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acarya of ISKCON, was recorded in a morning japa practice with his disciples, at one point on the tape we can hear him admonish someone – “Sit properly!” His voice is strong and makes us all sit up. It’s a reminder that how we do our chanting practice is as important, if not more important, that just doing it.
When we chant we are inviting Krishna into our day, our moment. It’s a big deal, a big opportunity to connect with the source of all life and to allow h
Come in from the cold
And warm your hands
By the fire of Krishna’s
Love for you
A love so real and true
But we are so cold
It’s hard to feel it
Come in from the cold
Areas of your mind
That separate you from
Light and comfort
And make you think
-and sometimes do-
Unwanted things
Come in from the cold
And warm your heart
By the fire of the holy name
The Temple is warm
The music sweet
Accept the invitation
And be at peace
Source:http://iskconofdc.org/come-in-from-the-cold/
