By Laurel Fishman
Pervading Eastern philosophy and religion for thousands of years, the lotus is a metaphor for the feet of the gods, saints and other exalted spiritual beings. Figurative language, analogies and mystic descriptions are used in spiritual instruction throughout many teachings.
The lotus is a spiritual symbol in many religions and cultures, and some of its meanings signify spiritual development, creation, purity and rebirth.
The true meaning o
By Gurudas
“At first, upon returning, I was a little skeptical of the Swami and his message. I was leery of organized anything those days. ‘Chant Hare Krishna and be happy.’ I tried it, and it did feel nice, but so did getting high, loving exchanges, good food, or music. And I didn’t understand why we couldn’t let our beads touch the ground. Didn’t God create the ground? Later, I learned that the rules had as much to do with time, place, circumstances, and self-realization
TEXT 45
sve sve karmany abhiratah
samsiddhim labhate narah
sva-karma-niratah siddhim
yatha vindati tac chrnu
SYNONYMS
sve--own; sve--own; karmani--in work; abhiratah--following;samsiddhim--perfection; labhate--achieves; narah--a man; sva-karma--by his own duty; niratah--engaged; siddhim--perfection;yatha--as; vindati--attains; tat--that; srnu--listen.
TRANSLATION
By following his qualities of work, every man can become perfect. Now please hear from Me how this can be done.
Starting as a 'satsang' initiative of International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) among villagers, a programme titled 'The Prayag' has taken shape inMaharashtra to bring about rural development in the fields of health, economy, society and culture.
The programme, already pioneered in several villages of Maharashtra, has been initiated by ISKCON spiritual leader Radhanath Swami Maharaj of Radha Gopinath Temple at Girgaon Chowpatt
By Kesava Krsna Dasa
When devotees are confronted with subjects concerning Raganuga-bhakti, many will retreat as if the matter is taboo, beyond explanation, too lofty, mired in controversy, against ISKCON thinking, an unknown quantity, a misunderstood area of thought, and other reasons. Why is this? There seems to be a universal acceptance that things ‘raganuga’ are best kept at a safe distance away, even though spontaneous devotion is more pleasing to Krishna than v
TOVP Plumbing System Underway
While in and of itself plumbing is not a glorious activity, when used in the Lord’s service it becomes a glorious detail to the TOVP project and an essential and important element in its all-around long-term preservation.
Piping work on the temple started last June, 2014 under the guidance of Gammon Construction. Recently, plumbing work started on the domes. This is to insure that, due to the impending approach of the rainy season, all excess water can be removed to
TEXT 44
krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam
vaisya-karma svabhava-jam
paricaryatmakam karma
sudrasyapi svabhava-jam
SYNONYMS
krsi--plowing; go--cows; raksya--protection; vanijyam--trade;vaisya--vaisya; karma--duty; svabhava-jam--born of his own nature;paricarya--service; atmakam--nature; karma--duty; sudrasya--of thesudra; api--also; svabhava-jam--born of his own nature.
TRANSLATION
Farming, cow protection and business are the qualities of work for the vaisyas, and for the sudras there is labor and service to ot
Nityam Bhagavata Sevaya, ISSUE - 13 on The curse that gave srimad bhagavatam to the world.
In the San Diego temple there was a gentleman called Mr. Prakash. He was a reserved type of person who would come regularly to the temple feasts but never really showed a lot of enthusiasm. He was from a Saivaite background. One day he had a severe heart attack and was rushed to hospital. During the surgery he almost passed away on four occasions. It was touch and go and he slipped into a coma. He remained that way for several weeks after. Badrinarayan Das Goswami was requested by his wife to p
Lecture on Lord Chaitanya's Journey to Vrindavan by Lokanath Swami on 05 Mar 2015 at ISKCON Pune
(Born in Aravade, a small village Maharashtra, Indian, he went to Mumbai for studying. In the year 1971, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was touring India with his foreign disciples and had organized a pandal program in Mumbai.)
To Listen and Download - click here
Lecture on Prahlada Instructs his School Mates by Nirantara Prabhu on 01 May 2015
(In 2005 he was awarded the prestigious "Global Excellence Award" for congregational preaching services from ISKCON.)
To Listen and Download - click here
Lecture on Srila Prabhupada Saved Me by Sankarsana Das Adhikari Prabhu on 18 Mar 2015 at Bhaktivedanta Manor
(Sankarshan Das fully dedicated his life for serving the order of his spiritual master to become a guru and deliver the world. For the last 40 years he has uninterruptedly served his spiritual master’s movement, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), in various capacities.)
To Listen and Download - click here
Lecture on Srila Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami at ISKOCN Brisbane on 11 May 2015
(HH Kadamba Kanana Swami coordinated the construction of Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi in Mayapur. He took sannyasa in 1997 and is now an initiating guru.)
For Listen and Download - click here
TEXT 43
sauryam tejo dhrtir daksyam
yuddhe capy apalayanam
danam isvara-bhavas ca
ksatram karma svabhava-jam
SYNONYMS
sauryam--heroism; tejah--power; dhrtih--determination; daksyam--resourcefulness; yuddhe--in battle; ca--and; api--also; apalayanam--not fleeing; danam--generosity; isvara--leadership; bhavah--nature;ca--and; ksatram--ksatriya; karma--duty; svabhava-jam--born of his own nature.
TRANSLATION
Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity, and leadership are
Hare Krishna!
Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Jalangi Dham strives to instill a principle of sustainable living, edible organic gardens, green community development, and to create awareness and improve standards of cleanliness and environmental friendliness in Sridham Mayapur.
The complex was designed in harmony with Sridham Mayapur's sweet mood, and in combination with numerous practical aspects such as the tropical climate of West Bengal. The buildings are na
Prabhupada Festival 2015 in Los Angeles: A transcendental experience!
By the Prabhupada Festival Team
Over Memorial Day weekend, ISKCON Los Angeles hosted the 24th Annual Prabhupada Festival in honor of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Some of the highlights of the festival weekend were the special talks and remembrances given by senior Prabhupada disciples. For the past 24 years, the Prabhupada Festival has invited and hosted countless Prabhupada disciples from across the g
By Dvarakadhisa Devi Dasi
Both in living and in dying, this senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada’s exemplified the essence of Krsna consciousness.
On June 5, 1986, Gauri-devi dasi passed from her body in the holy land of Vrndavana, India. For seventeen years she had been devotedly serving her spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Gauri was a sincere and dedicated preacher, giving herself fully to Srila Prabhupada’s mis
Source of this post: http://krishnaseva.blogspot.in/2015/06/panihatti-chida-dahi-festival.html
(you can find other good posts in that blog)
Panihatti is a town located on the banks of the Ganges, ten miles north of Kolkata. It is the site of many wonderful spiritual pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His close associates. This pastime is about how the devotees pleased Lord Chaitanya and how He reciprocated in a pleasing festival called Panihatti Chida Dahi mahotsav.
The tree under which this
By Nimai Devi Dasi
His Grace Lilasukha Dasa received sannyasa initiation this morning (31st May 2015) from his own spiritual master His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja. His sannyasa name is His Holiness Bhakti Prabhava Swami.
Four other sannyasis were also witness to the momentous occasion – HH Prahladananda Swami, HH Dhirasanta Swami, HH Dayananda Swami and HH Bhakti Prem Swami.
The ceremony took place at ISKCON Leicester, and t
Photo by Madhva Muni das
By Praghosa dasa
“Out of the Woman Comes the Man, Spends the Rest of His Life Getting Back When he Can”
This is a line from a song I listened to during my misspent youth. Indeed now it is clear to me that I not only had a misspent youth but unlimited misspent previous lives. I cannot say for sure what the author of these lines intended them to mean but prior to me having the privilege
