Final Call for Boarding – My Recent Sankirtan Experience

I had to travel to Coimbatore India from Secunderabad to meet my parents over the weekend. I had to travel by plane due to last minute decision, but still I packed a hand baggage with my cloths and another carry-on with books.

After finishing the formalities at the airport counter, I was left with about 40 minutes for Hari Nama Sankirtan. I approached a lady explained Bagavad Gita but she was not interested. I moved away looking for other tr

Practice and Paraphernalia

Make sure your hands are carefully washed before beginning japa. Chant on the 108 beads by gently rolling them between the middle finger and the thumb. Never touch the beads with the index finger, which is generally used for a host of unpurified activities. Instead, keep that finger on the outside of the japa bag, placing it through the small enclosure in your bag which is made for that purpose. If you use your hands for anything other than chanting during the japa per

Practice and Paraphernalia

Make sure your hands are carefully washed before beginning japa. Chant on the 108 beads by gently rolling them between the middle finger and the thumb. Never touch the beads with the index finger, which is generally used for a host of unpurified activities. Instead, keep that finger on the outside of the japa bag, placing it through the small enclosure in your bag which is made for that purpose. If you use your hands for anything other than chanting during the japa peri

ISKCON Milestone: Kolkata Ratha-yatra, 2012

In his letter to Gargamuni Maharaja in 1970 Srila Prabhupada wrote:

"i We shall open a very gorgeous branch in Calcutta. Calcutta is my birth-place, so all of you as my disciples do something unique in Calcutta. That will be fitting service to your Spiritual Master." Desiring to please Srila Prabhupada by doing something unique for him in Kolkata, his birth-place, devotees of ISKCON Kolkata decided to organize the grandest Ratha-yatra ever in ISKCON. It

How to avoid suffering in the material modes

(Compiled from notes on lectures of H. H. Mahavishnu Goswami)

Everyone feels bewildered and anguished at some point of time because of dysfunctional relationships. Dealing satisfactory with other individuals at all times requires wisdom and in the Bhagavatam verse 4.8.34 the formula is given for avoiding suffering in the material modes by acting prope

Maya means when we forget Krsna and we want to enjoy this material world to the best capacity, means as far as we can do with our senses, Krsna gives us opportunity. Krsna gives us opportunity, and therefore so many varieties of life. If somebody wants to eat without any discrimination anything... There are many persons, even in the so-called civilized world, they eat anything and everything. But that is misuse of life. Human life is meant for eating Krsna's prasadam, not anything and everything

Genuine vs. Fake Religion

(Compiled from notes on lectures of H. H. Mahavishnu Goswami)

His Holiness Mahavishnu Gosvami Maharaja is always kindly showing us the doubtless way of pure devotional service by the torchlight of transcendental knowledge, as in the following class on the Srimad Bhagavatam 6.16.41, given in London, July 7, 2008.

visama-matir na yatra nrnaam
tvam aham iti mama taveti ca ya

As infants, we enter this world in a delivery room because we need to be delivered from the confines of our mother’s womb. Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, comes here as an infant, too. But He has no need for a delivery. He arrives by His own sweet will, and His purpose is to deliver us. He plays the role of an endearing and dependent newborn, but He is complete with all of the powers of the Godhead.

Lord Krishna

Venue: Guayana , Guayana katha, dated: 2006, June 30

Hare Krishna……………… Jai Shri Krishna…………….Jai Shri Radhe………………..Jai Shri Vrindavan.  By causeless mercy of the Lord, we have this good fortune great fortune of coming together every evening, some of us were also getting together during the day time around noon time and then again evening this is Krishna’s kindness to all of us. We would not know, but punya karma what pious deeds we have performed to have this rare gift, rare opportunity to assoc

Janmashtami, one of the most popular festivals of Hindus celebrates the birth of their beloved God, Sri Krishna. Detailed story of Janmashtami or Lord Krishna's birth has been narrated in Puranas. Please read on to know more about the various fascinating aspects of the legend of Janmashtami as stated in Puranas.

Mathura, a prominent town of Northern India and the birth city of Sri Krishna was ruled by King Ugrasen, a Yaduvanshi ( Belonging to the Community of Yadavs). He was a great king loved b

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Every journey, however long it may be, begins with a single step. But you must take that first step. Once you do, each step takes you closer and closer to your goal.

Sometimes, when you consider taking on a new venture – whether it’s writing a book, beginning a new project, or anything else – the task can seem overwhelming. It’s as though you’ll never be able to arrive at your final destination, as if the first step isn’

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Chanting Japa

At the conclusion of Tulasi-arati, during the 1-1/2 to 2-hour period before Guru-puja begins, the devotees take time for chanting japa. By definition, 'japa' means personal chanting on beads and hearing the Holy Name. Since time immemorial, the devotees have preferred to chant japa in the early morning hours. Those who are able arise well before Mangala-arati and begin chanting their prescribed rounds, often finishing their rounds after Tulasi-arati.

Srila Prabhupada's program for ch

"The Science of Congregational Chanting
of the Name of the Lord"

The sincere devotee who wants to attain a perfection (Siddhi) for himself by the process of chanting the Name of the Lord must refrain from the ten kinds of offences which are quoted below from the "Padmapuranam."

The first and foremost offence is the act of defaming the great saints who have glorified the chanting of the Name of the Lord by example in their own life and precepts. According to ordinary moral principles no one must be

Benefits of Mantra Meditation

When one is out and about in daily life, things tempt to knock one off balance emotionally, which can lead to one getting angry and stressed and developing negative sentiments towards other people.  Such sentiments and emotions are not healthy for one’s body, mind, or spirit. They cloud the mind, pushing one into unproductive mental circles of negative thinking. They cause tension in the body, which leads to disease. They degrade the quality of one’s consciousness, w

Japa Begins at Night

Japa begins at night***

Below is the summary of Sudama Pr’s session:

Japa begins at night – The Intro

Ø Spiritual advancement depends on hearing & chanting

o 99% of our spiritual advancement depends on hearing & chanting & 1% depends on service. But for this 1% seva to be perfect in its execution we have to give our best in the 99% composition pertaining to hearing & chanting.

Ø Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakura: 3 most important things for a Vaisnava: Naam-ruchi, Jiva daya, Vaisnava se

The name of God is powerful like the River Ganges

Japa Quotes from HH Radhanath Swami:

When we wake up in the morning, the first thing we have to do is immediately start chanting His holy names... very essential.

“My dear Lord, O Krishna, all-attractive supreme object of everyone’s love;

O Rama, the reservoir of all pleasure and happiness;

O Srimati Radharani, the divine pleasure potency and the bestower of devotion-

PLEASE ENGAGE ME IN YOUR SERVICE; PLEASE ENGAGE ME IN THE SERVICE OF YOUR SERVANTS”

We